Old Jaffa

"ANCIENT CITIES OF THE HOLY LAND" BULLION SERIES

Israel Coins and Medals Corp. proudly introduces a new, thrilling series of eight "Ancient Cities in the Holy Land", struck in one troy ounce fine gold and fine silver versions.

Many empires have desired and ruled over the ancient cities of the Holy Land, each leaving its historical traces. Each city throws light on different periods of history and cultures.

The "Ancient Cities of the Holy Land" Series unfolds the unique stories of the ancient cities of the Holy Land and preserves their intriguing history for the generations to come.

The eight ancient cities to be featured in the series are: Jaffa, Acre, Tiberias, Caesarea, Nazareth, Safed, Ashkelon and Jerusalem

OLD JAFFA
FIRST IN THE SERIES

Jaffa, built on a hill jutting out from the coastline of Israel, to the south of Tel Aviv today, developed as one of the most important port cities of the Mediterranean region. Mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Jonah, Jaffa was where Jonah the Prophet boarded a ship bound westwards in an attempt to flee from his divine mission.

Jaffa's long history started about 3,000 years ago and over the ages it has come under rule of the Egyptians, Canaanites, Assyrians, Persians, Seleucids, Maccabeans, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire and the British Mandate. Destroyed in between by the Napoleonic wars at the beginning of the 19th century, an earthquake in 1837 and Arab riots in 1936-39, Jaffa finally became part of the State of Israel after the declaration of the State in May 1948.

The small, narrow, alleyways of Jaffa are now home to art galleries, boutique shops and restaurants. While once the main sea entrance to the Land of Israel, the historical port today serves as a harbor for fishermen's boats and small yachts. With its famous flea market, Jaffa today is one of Israel's most popular tourist areas.

Engraved in precious gold and silver is a view of Old Jaffa, showing the historical port and buildings as they appear today. The modern buildings of Tel Aviv to the right and old buildings of Jaffa to the left create a perfect blend of old and new, past and future.

Face: View of Old Jaffa with the port in the foreground and historical buildings on the hill, left are the modern buildings of Tel Aviv.
Border inscriptions in English and Hebrew, "Old Jaffa", "1oz. fine gold.9999" on the gold version, "1oz. fine silver.999" on the silver version, and the mint year.
Common Reverse: Border inscriptions in English and Hebrew, "Ancient Cities in the Holy Land". In the center, a seven-branched Menorah candelabrum taken from an ancient Hasmonean Coin of Mattathias Antigonus (40 – 37 B.C.E).

Design: Meir Eshel

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Minting: The Holy Land Mint